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Abstract Background The Diabetes Telemedicine Mediterranean Diet (DiaTeleMed) Study is a fully remote randomized clinical trial evaluating personalized dietary management in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study aims to test the efficacy of a personalized behavioral approach for dietary management of moderately controlled T2D, versus a standardized behavioral intervention that uses one-size-fits-all dietary recommendations, versus a usual care control (UCC). The primary outcome will compare the impact of each intervention on the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE). Methods Eligible participants are between 21 and 80 years of age diagnosed with moderately controlled T2D (HbA1c: 6.0 to 8.0%) and managed on lifestyle alone or lifestyle plus metformin. Participants must be willing and able to attend virtual counseling sessions and log meals into a dietary tracking smartphone application (DayTwo), and wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for up to 12 days. Participants are randomized with equal allocation (n = 255, n = 85 per arm) to one of three arms: (1) Personalized, (2) Standardized, or (3) UCC. Measurements occur at 0 (baseline), 3, and 6 months. All participants receive isocaloric energy and macronutrient targets to meet Mediterranean diet guidelines, in addition to 14 intervention contacts over 6 months (4 weekly then 10 biweekly) to cover diabetes self-management education. The first 4 UCC intervention contacts are delivered via synchronous videoconferences followed by educational video links. Participants in Standardized receive the same educational content as those in the UCC arm, following the same schedule. However, all intervention contacts are conducted via synchronous videoconferences, paired with Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)-based behavioral counseling, plus dietary self-monitoring of planned meals using a mobile app that provides real-time feedback on calories and macronutrients. Participants in the Personalized arm receive all elements of the Standardized intervention, in addition to real-time feedback on predicted post-prandial glycemic response (PPGR) to meals and snacks logged into the mobile app. Discussion The DiaTeleMed Study aims to address an important gap in the current landscape of precision nutrition by determining the contributions of behavioral counseling and personalized nutrition recommendations on glycemic control in individuals with T2D. The fully remote methodology of the study allows for scalability and innovative delivery of personalized dietary recommendations at a population level. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05046886. Registered on September 16, 2021.

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) contributes to significant morbidity and mortality for Chinese immigrants in the United States, exacerbated by social determinants of health (SDOH) barriers such as language barriers, limited access to healthy foods, and low health literacy. ObjectiveThe goal of the Integrating Cultural Aspects into Diabetes Education (INCLUDE) study is to test a social media–based intervention adapting the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for Chinese immigrants alongside a culturally adapted, community-supported agriculture program. Here, we report the protocol for the INCLUDE study. MethodsINCLUDE is a 3-year randomized controlled trial (n=150). Participants with prediabetes or at risk for T2D are enrolled and randomized into either the control or intervention group (n=75 each). Participants from the intervention group receive 2-3 culturally tailored, in-language DPP videos weekly for 12 weeks, as well as biweekly phone calls from bilingual study staff to review video content, support goal setting, and assess and address SDOH-related barriers such as food insecurity. Intervention participants will also be given produce for 10 weeks as part of the community-supported agriculture program. Weight (primary outcome), self-efficacy, diet, physical activity, and food insecurity (secondary outcomes) are measured at baseline, 3-month, and 6-month intervals. Splined linear mixed models will be used to examine group differences in longitudinal weight and other secondary outcomes. The INCLUDE study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. ResultsRecruitment started in May 2023, with the first cohort of 75 participants enrolled and randomized into 2 groups in July 2023. The 3-month and 6-month assessment of the first-year cohort has been completed. We have recruited 75 participants for the second cohort as of July 2024. ConclusionsThe INCLUDE study will serve as an innovative model for culturally adapted, multilevel interventions for underserved communities previously unable to access evidence-based diabetes prevention initiatives. Aligning with several national calls for multilevel interventions, the INCLUDE intervention will provide critical data that will inform how researchers and public health professionals address SDOH barriers faced by underserved populations and prevent diabetes. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05492916; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05492916 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/65455

Land-use changes lead to habitat loss and fragmentation, which poses a further threat to the survival of species. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze how land-use change affects its habitat. 37 counties in Sichuan Province, China, where giant pandas are distributed, were selected as the subjects. Through analyzing land-use change, habitat suitability and connectivity characteristics over the past 20 years, and establishing a correlation between them, the impacts of land-use change on the habitat suitability and connectivity of giant pandas were explained. The results showed that from 2000 to 2020, the different land-use areas in the study area showed a pattern of change with an increase in forest area, built-up area and water area, and a decrease in grassland area and cropland area. There were significant differences in the characteristics of land-use dynamics changes among counties. Changes in land-use dynamics have a significant impact on the habitat suitability and connectivity of giant pandas, which is manifested in the fact that the conversion of forestland to grassland and grassland to cultivated land significantly reduces habitat suitability, while the conversion of grassland to forestland and cultivated to forestland significantly increases the connectivity of giant panda habitats. Changes in the habitat suitability index were significantly and positively correlated with the land-use dynamics index and the land-use degree index. Our findings emphasize the importance of balancing socio-economic development, land-use, and conservation efforts to maintain giant panda habitat. Therefore, the development of rational land-use patterns in future management is key to maximizing the comprehensive social, economic and ecological benefits.

Abstract Quantifying the variable impacts of wildfire smoke on ozone air quality is challenging. Here we use airborne measurements from the 2018 Western Wildfire Experiment for Cloud Chemistry, Aerosol Absorption, and Nitrogen (WE‐CAN) to parameterize emissions of reactive nitrogen (NOy) from wildfires into peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN; 37%), NO3− (27%), and NO (36%) in a global chemistry‐climate model with 13 km spatial resolution over the contiguous US. The NOy partitioning, compared with emitting all NOy as NO, reduces model ozone bias in near‐fire smoke plumes sampled by the aircraft and enhances ozone downwind by 5–10 ppbv when Canadian smoke plumes travel to Washington, Utah, Colorado, and Texas. Using multi‐platform observations, we identify the smoke‐influenced days with daily maximum 8‐hr average (MDA8) ozone of 70–88 ppbv in Kennewick, Salt Lake City, Denver and Dallas. On these days, wildfire smoke enhanced MDA8 ozone by 5–25 ppbv, through ozone produced remotely during plume transport and locally via interactions of smoke plume with urban emissions.

BackgroundEmerging evidence indicates that individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more prone to mental health issues than the general population; however, there is a significant lack of data concerning the mental health burden in Chinese Americans with T2D. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the comorbid mental health status, health-seeking behaviors, and mental service utilization among Chinese Americans with T2D. MethodsA cross-sectional telephone survey was performed among 74 Chinese Americans with T2D in New York City. We used standardized questionnaires to assess mental health status and to gather data on mental health–seeking behaviors and service utilization. Descriptive statistics were applied for data analysis. ResultsA total of 74 Chinese Americans with T2D completed the survey. Most participants (mean age 56, SD 10 years) identified as female (42/74, 57%), were born outside the United States (73/74, 99%), and had limited English proficiency (71/74, 96%). Despite nearly half of the participants (34/74, 46%) reporting at least one mental health concern (elevated stress, depressive symptoms, and/or anxiety), only 3% (2/74) were currently using mental health services. Common reasons for not seeking care included no perceived need, lack of information about Chinese-speaking providers, cost, and time constraints. The cultural and language competence of the provider was ranked as the top factor related to seeking mental health care. ConclusionsChinese Americans with T2D experience relatively high comorbid mental health concerns yet have low service utilization. Clinicians may consider team-based care to incorporate mental health screening and identify strategies to provide culturally and linguistically concordant mental health services to engage Chinese Americans with T2D.

Shared autonomous electric vehicle systems (SAEVS) combine autonomous driving technology with shared electric vehicle services to provide advantages over traditional shared vehicle systems, including autonomous vehicle relocation and rapid response to user needs. In this study, we seek to enhance the operational efficiency and profitability of SAEVS by considering trip selection and the potential opportunity cost associated with unmet user demands. An integer linear programming (ILP) model is developed using a spatio-temporal state network to optimize the system design planning (e.g., charging facility, vehicle fleet sizing and distribution) and operational decisions (e.g., vehicle operational relocation and trip selection strategy). To handle the computational complexities of this model, we propose a Lagrangian relaxation (LR) algorithm. The performance of the LR algorithm is evaluated through a case study. The results, along with a parameter sensitivity analysis, reveal several key findings: (ⅰ) Allocating vehicles to stations with concentrated early peak demand, distributing charging facilities to stations with high total demand throughout the day and implementing vehicle relocation after the early demand peak can mitigate uneven vehicle distribution; (ⅱ) Implementing trip selection enhances SAEVS profitability; (ⅲ) Increasing opportunity cost meets user demands but at the expense of reduced profit; (ⅳ) It is recommended that SAEVS be equipped with charging facilities of suitable charging power based on operational conditions.

Nitroamino is an ideal high-energy group for constructing energetic compounds. The skeletal isomerization of nitroamino to nitroimino forms intramolecular HBs, thus resulting in better density, thermal stability and sensitivity. However, it is difficult to find nitroamino and nitroimino in the same environment for comparative analysis. A new compound, 5-Nitroamino-8-nitroimino-1,4-dihydropyrazino [2,3-d]pyridazine-2,3-dione (3), was designed and synthesized. The symmetric skeleton of pyrazino [2,3-d]pyridazine provides the same environment for both nitroamino and nitroimino groups. By using a variety of computational and graphical methods, a theoretical support for nitroamino-based energetic materials was produced by thoroughly examining the influence between nitroamino and nitroimino.

Shiqu County, Sichuan Province, forms the eastern edge of the distribution area of the kiang (Equus kiang). It is important to assess the population and habitat status of peripheral populations, as these play a significant role in the development of conservation strategies for kiangs. Based on field transect data collected from July to August 2023, this study predicted the suitable habitat distribution of kiangs in Shiqu County using a MaxEnt model and estimated the population size and density using the ‘Distance’ package. Additionally, it analyzed the responses of the group size of kiangs to environmental factors in Shiqu County. The results showed that the area of suitable habitat for kiangs is 3402.45 km2, accounting for 13.51% of the total area of Shiqu County. The estimated population was 1395.00 ± 272.20, with a population density of 0.41 ± 0.08/km2. Additionally, the group size of kiangs was significantly positively correlated with the distance from the road and grazing site. The distance from the grazing site, elevation, and temperature annual range are the main environmental factors affecting the distribution of kiangs. This study initially revealed the peripheral population Status and suitable habitat of the kiang on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, and the potential threat of grazing interference and road obstruction. The research results can provide a scientific reference for the population and habitat protection of kiangs in this area.

BackgroundType 2 diabetes disproportionately affects South Asian subgroups. Lifestyle prevention programs help prevent and manage diabetes; however, there is a need to tailor these programs for mobile health (mHealth). ObjectiveThis study examined technology access, current use, and preferences for health communication among South Asian immigrants diagnosed with or at risk for diabetes, overall and by sex. We examined factors associated with interest in receiving diabetes information by (1) text message, (2) online (videos, voice notes, online forums), and (3) none or skipped, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and technology access. MethodsWe used baseline data collected in 2019-2021 from two clinical trials among South Asian immigrants in New York City (NYC), with one trial focused on diabetes prevention and the other focused on diabetes management. Descriptive statistics were used to examine overall and sex-stratified impacts of sociodemographics on technology use. Overall logistic regression was used to examine the preference for diabetes information by text message, online (videos, voice notes, or forums), and no interest/skipped response. ResultsThe overall sample (N=816) had a mean age of 51.8 years (SD 11.0), and was mostly female (462/816, 56.6%), married (756/816, 92.6%), with below high school education (476/816, 58.3%) and limited English proficiency (731/816, 89.6%). Most participants had a smartphone (611/816, 74.9%) and reported interest in receiving diabetes information via text message (609/816, 74.6%). Compared to male participants, female participants were significantly less likely to own smartphones (317/462, 68.6% vs 294/354, 83.1%) or use social media apps (Viber: 102/462, 22.1% vs 111/354, 31.4%; WhatsApp: 279/462, 60.4% vs 255/354, 72.0%; Facebook: Messenger 72/462, 15.6% vs 150/354, 42.4%). A preference for receiving diabetes information via text messaging was associated with male sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.63, 95% CI 1.01-2.55; P=.04), current unemployment (AOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.03-2.53; P=.04), above high school education (AOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.41-3.32; P

Abstract Tropospheric ozone is an air pollutant and a greenhouse gas whose anthropogenic production is limited principally by the supply of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from combustion. Tropospheric ozone in the northern hemisphere has been rising despite the flattening of NOx emissions in recent decades. Here we propose that this sustained increase could result from the photolysis of nitrate particles (pNO3−) to regenerate NOx. Including pNO3− photolysis in the GEOS‐Chem atmospheric chemistry model improves the consistency with ozone observations. Our simulations show that pNO3− concentrations have increased since the 1960s because of rising ammonia and falling SO2 emissions, augmenting the increase in ozone in the northern extratropics by about 50% to better match the observed ozone trend. pNO3− will likely continue to increase through 2050, which would drive a continued increase in ozone even as NOx emissions decrease. More work is needed to better understand the mechanism and rates of pNO3− photolysis.

Objective: Despite being primary beneficiaries of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, female university students in China exhibit low vaccination rates. This study aimed to assess their preferences for HPV vaccination services and evaluate the relative importance of various factors to inform vaccination strategy development. Methods: Through a literature review and expert consultations, we identified five key attributes for study: effectiveness, protection duration, waiting time, distance, and out-of-pocket (OOP) payment. A D-efficient design was used to create a discrete choice experiment (DCE) questionnaire. We collected data via face-to-face interviews and online surveys from female students across seven universities in China, employing mixed logit and latent class logit models to analyze the data. The predicted uptake and compensating variation (CV) were used to compare different vaccination service scenarios. Results: From 1178 valid questionnaires, with an effective response rate of 92.9%, we found that effectiveness was the most significant factor influencing vaccination preference, followed by protection duration, OOP payment and waiting time, with less concern for distance. The preferred services included a 90% effective vaccine, lifetime protection, a waiting time of less than three months, a travel time of more than 60 min, and low OOP payment. Significant variability in preferences across different vaccination service scenarios was observed, affecting potential market shares. The CV analysis showed female students were willing to spend approximately CNY 5612.79 to include a hypothetical ‘Service 5’ (a vaccine with higher valency than the nine-valent HPV vaccine) in their prevention options. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for personalized, need-based HPV vaccination services that cater specifically to the preferences of female university students to increase vaccination uptake and protect their health.

Abstract Objective To assess the criterion validity of a dietary screener questionnaire adapted for Asian Americans (ADSQ) compared to Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA-24) food diary data amongst Chinese American Adults (CHAs). The ADSQ incorporated example ethnic foods from six Asian American groups. Lessons learned with respect to translating the ADSQ from English into Simplified Chinese were also documented. Design Agreement between a two-day food diary (one weekend day and one weekday) and the ADSQ was assessed for vegetable, fruit, dairy, added sugar, fiber, calcium, and whole grain intake using paired t-tests to compare means and Spearman correlations to assess agreement between intake of food components. Setting Data were collected online and via phone interviews. Participants Thirty-three CHAs aged 19–62 years (63.6% female). Results Mean differences were small for fruit, dairy, fiber, calcium, and whole grain intake, but were significantly different for vegetables and added sugar intake. Spearman correlations were 0.05) for all components. Both the ASA-24 and the ADSQ identified the same categories where CHAs intake is misaligned with dietary recommendations: whole grains, total fruit, and dairy. Difficulties were encountered in translating 13 out of 26 questions. Conclusions The ADSQ may be a useful tool to identify intervention targets for improving dietary quality, but caution is warranted when interpreting vegetable and added sugar estimates. Differences in the English and Chinese languages underscore the need to take into account both literal translations and semantics in translating the ADSQ into other languages.

The Lactobacillus strains with excellent fermentation performance play a crucial role in the preparation of starter cultures, which has a significant impact on the quality of fermented dairy products. Therefore, to select the Lactobacillus strains with high fermentation performance is essential for the preparation of starter cultures. In this study, four Lactobacillus strains with high stability of milk-clotting after the 10th passage were derived from three samples of Aksu handmade yogurt (a sort of Xinjiang specialty). By means of 16S rRNA sequencing and morphophysiological identification, q8-1 and q28-2 were identified as Lactobacillus casei, R22-2 was identified as Lactobacillus paracasei, and q4-1 was identified as Pediococcus acidilactici. Meanwhile, some other bacteria with the stability of milk-clotting that had been previously selected in the lab including K5-2 (Pediococcus pentosaceus), 7-1 (Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and A-2 (Streptococcus thermophilus) were juxtaposed with these four Lactobacillus strains for performance assessment. In this assessment, a measurement was performed to determine their single-strain growth ability, acid production performance, post-acidification performance, viable cell count (VCC) during storage in diary products, sensory analysis results, texture properties and aroma-producing ability. Results showed that, the Lactobacillus bulgaricus 7-1 had the best fermentation performance with coagulation time and fermentation end times of 8 and 9.5 hours, respectively. It had a high acid yield but a weak capacity for post-acidification. After 1 day of post-ripening, the acidity was 97.6 °T. After 20 days of storage at 4 ℃, the acidity did not vary by more than 20 °T, and the number of viable bacteria remained above 1×106 CFU/mL. Good texture characterized the fermented milk. The firmness, consistency, cohesiveness and index of viscosity were (60.26±0.11) g, (1209.37±0.62) g·s, (−11.81±0.04) g, (−5.37±0.04) g·s, respectively. In the fermented milk, the concentrations of acetaldehyde and diacetyl were 14.48 and 1.23 mg/L, respectively. Good fermentation performance was demonstrated by Streptococcus thermophilus A-2, and Pediococcus pentosaceus K5-2, which also met the fundamental parameters of starter culture. Results showed that Lactobacillus bulgaricus 7-1, Streptococcus thermophilus A-2, and Pediococcus pentosaceus K5-2 had good yoghurt fermentation abilities and could be employed as yoghurt starter cultures.

ObjectivesTo test the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a mHealth intervention tailored for Chinese immigrant families with type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsWe conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with baseline, 3-, and 6-month measurements. Participating dyads, T2D patients and families/friends from NYC, were randomized into the intervention group (n = 11) or the wait-list control group (n = 12). Intervention includes 24 videos covering T2D self-management, behavioral techniques, and family-oriented sessions. Feasibility and acceptability were measured respectively by the retention rate and video watch rate, and a satisfaction survey. Patients' HbA1c, weight, and self-management were also assessed to test potential efficacy.ResultsMost T2D patients (n = 23; mean age 56.2±9.4 years; 52.2% male) and families/friends (n = 23, mean age 54.6±11.2 years; 52.2% female) had high school education or less (69.6% and 69.6%), annual household income < $25,000 (65.2% and 52.2%), and limited English proficiency (95.7% and 95.7%). The retention rates were not significantly different between the intervention and the control groups for both the patients (90.91% vs 83.3%, p = 0.589); and their families/friends (3-month: 90.9% vs 75%, p = 0.313; 6-month: 90.9% vs 83.3%, p = 0.589). The mean video watch rate was 76.8% (7%). T2D patients and families/friends rated satisfaction as 9.4 and 10 out of 10, respectively. Despite no between-group differences, the intervention group had significantly lower HbA1c (p = 0.014) and better self-management (p = 0.009), and lost 12 lbs. on average at 6 months (p = 0.079), compared to their baseline levels.ConclusionsA culturally-tailored, family-based mHealth intervention is feasible and acceptable among low-income, limited English-proficient Chinese families with T2D in NYC. Significant changes in HbA1c and self-management within the intervention group indicate this intervention may have potential efficacy. Given the small sample size of this study, a future RCT with adequate power is needed to test efficacy.

Climate change will impact the distribution of species and their preferred habitat, thereby influencing the ecological processes intrinsic to these species. To investigate these phenomena, we analyzed the habitat distribution, structure, and connectivity of 6 forest ungulate species in Southwest China under current and future climate scenarios. Habitat projections indicate that forest ungulates will migrate to the southwest at higher elevations and the northwest at higher latitudes and elevations in the study area under climate change. The extent to which climate change affects the 6 forest ungulates is quite different. By 2050, there will still be a certain range of habitats for migration in the study area, but the habitat quality of species will have decreased to varying degrees after migration. By 2070, most forest ungulates will begin to experience significant habitat loss and habitat quality decline. The migration of species habitat also leads to a change in species habitat structure. Habitat landscape quality declines for most forest ungulate species. The loss of patches at the junction habitat has a huge impact on species habitat connectivity. The number and distance of corridors between the marginal habitat patches and the core habitat patches increase to a certain extent. To better achieve biodiversity conservation, we should strengthen the restoration and connectivity management of fragmented habitats to protect and restore the current habitats of species. Examples include the management of specific key areas and the establishment of large-scale integrated protected areas such as the Giant Panda National Park.

Safety is fundamental for the practical development and application of energetic materials. Three tricyclic energetic compounds, namely, 1,3-di(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine (ATDT), 5′-nitro-3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-2′H-[1,3′-bi(1,2,4-triazol)]-5-amine (ATNT), and 1-(3,4-dinitro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine (ATDNP), were effectively synthesized through a simple two-step synthetic route. The introduction of intramolecular hydrogen bonds resulted in excellent molecular planarity for the three new compounds. Additionally, they exhibit regular crystal packing, leading to numerous intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions. Benefiting from planar tricyclic structural features, ATDT, ATNT, and ATDNP are insensitive (IS > 60 J, FS = 360 N) when exposed to external stimuli. Furthermore, ATNT (Td = 361.1 °C) and ATDNP (Td = 317.0 °C) exhibit high decomposition temperatures and satisfying detonation performance. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding that produced this planar tricyclic molecular structure serves as a model for the creation of innovative multiple heterocycle energetic materials with excellent stability.

Objective: Social media platforms are effective tools for promoting public health and implementing impactful health interventions. This study explored social media utilization patterns among young Asian American adults and their effect on perceived family influence on lifestyle behaviors. Methods: The study analyzes data from Asian American young adults (aged 18–35 years) participating in an online survey in March 2021. Results: A total of 739 Asian Americans participated in the survey: 45.6% East Asian, 23.4% Southeast Asian, and 22.7% South Asian. Common social media platforms include Facebook Messenger (60.9%) and Instagram (57.0%). US-born Asian Americans reported higher odds of using Instagram (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.64, 95% CI: [1.09, 2.46]) than foreign-born Asian Americans. Higher acculturation was associated with lower odds of using Instagram among South Asians (AOR: .46, 95% CI: [.24, .83]) and greater odds of using Instagram among East Asians (AOR: 1.72, 95% CI: [1.09, 2.75]). Interacting with mothers using Facebook and Instagram had a higher perceived influence on one’s ability to improve sleep (AOR: 2.08, 95% CI: [1.19, 3.65]; AOR: 2.53, 95% CI: [1.15, 5.55]) and develop stress-management strategies (AOR: 1.73, 95% CI: [1.02, 2.96]; AOR: 4.05, 95% CI: [1.83, 9.49]). With one’s siblings, Facebook was associated with a lower perceived influence on avoiding risky substances (AOR: .48, 95% CI: [.23, .97]), and WhatsApp was associated with a higher perceived influence on one’s ability to develop stress-management strategies (AOR: 3.10, 95% CI: [1.26, 7.78]) and form/maintain relationships (AOR: 2.58, 95% CI: [1.02, 6.58]). No significant findings with father interactions were observed. Conclusion: Findings provide evidence for researchers seeking to tailor social media–based interpersonal health interventions to address the unique needs of diverse Asian American communities.

Background and aims: Adventitial remodeling is an important pathological process of atherosclerosis, but cues implicated in adventitial remodeling are far from fully understood. Periostin (POSTN), a matricellular protein, has been demonstrated to have multiple roles in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to explore the function of POSTN in adventitial remodeling during atherosclerosis. Methods: An atherosclerosis model was constructed based on ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. The expression of POSTN in the adventitia of mouse atherosclerotic vascular specimens was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The roles of POSTN in regulating adventitial fibroblast activation were assessed by cell contractility and activation marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression evaluation in adventitial fibroblasts overexpressing POSTN. In addition, we performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting to examine the expression of the proinflammatory chemokines transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1), as well as some extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins, in POSTN-overexpressing adventitial fibroblasts. Finally, the integrin-related signaling pathway was detected upon POSTN overexpression in adventitial fibroblasts. Results: POSTN was highly expressed in the adventitia of atherosclerotic aortae in the mouse atherosclerosis model and promoted the activation and contraction of adventitial fibroblasts. Meanwhile, POSTN also induced adventitial fibroblasts to express TGF-β1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1), and ECM-related proteins and activated the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src. Conclusions: Our results revealed that POSTN is elevated in adventitia during atherosclerosis and contributes to the adventitial remodeling of atherosclerosis by activating adventitial fibroblasts.

Previously, the small molecule inhibitor of transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) MGH-CP1 has been described in stem cells. Here, the authors demonstrate the utility of MGH-CP1 in cancer therapy and find treatment to increase Akt pathway activation via TEAD-Vgll3 activation, presenting a rationale for combination with Akt inhibition.

IntroductionIntensive lifestyle intervention remains an effective modality to reduce diabetes incidence and delay the progression to type 2 diabetes. The primary aim of this study was to pilot-test the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally and linguistically tailored web-based DPP intervention among Chinese Americans with prediabetes living in New York City.MethodsThirteen Chinese American participants with prediabetes were recruited to complete a 1-year web-based Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention. Quantitative and qualitative measures such as retention rate and data collected from web-based questionnaires and focus groups were collected and analyzed to assess study feasibility and acceptability.Results and DiscussionParticipants were receptive to the program through high engagement, retention and satisfaction. Retention rate was 85%. 92% of participants completed at least 16 sessions out of 22 sessions. Post-trial surveys indicated high satisfaction of 27.2/32 based on Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) score. Participants expressed the program increased their knowledge and methods to prevent onset of type 2 diabetes such as incorporating healthy eating habits and increasing physical activities. Although not a primary outcome, there was a significant weight reduction of 2.3% at the end of month 8 of the program (p

Abstract Background Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is an intracelluar transcriotion factor and NLRP3 (Nod-like receptor containing a pyrin domain 3) is a component of NLRP3 inflammasome in pyroptotic cells. There was increased activation of STAT6 and expression of NLRP3 in mice with murine acute lung injury (ALI). However, it is unknown their roles in the development of murine ALI. We in this study, investigated the effects of STAT6 signaling on murine ALI and pyroptosis in STAT6 knock-out (KO) mice and macrophages. Results STAT6 was activated in the lung tissues of mice 2 days after intratracheal treatmemt with 5 mg/kg LPS. Lack of STAT6 expression in KO mice induced more severe lung inflammation, associated with elevated neutrophil influx and expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-1beta in the inflamed lung tissues. In addition, the expression of NLRP3, ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD), p-p38 MAPK (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase) and ratio of LC3-II/I (microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain-3) was increased, accompanied with the increased polarization of Siglec-F(−) subtype macrophages in KO mice with ALI. Further studies in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) revealed that lack of STAT6 increased the expression of NLRP3 and p-p38 MAPK, in association with elevated expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and Calreticulin in LPS-treated KO BMDMs. Conclusions Lack of STAT6 exacerbated murine ALI through improving the expression of NLRP3 and activation of p38 MAPK in macrophages. STAT6 has an immune suppressive role in the development of ALI and would be a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of ALI and possibly among patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

In this paper, a novel method for simultaneous measurement of rotation speed and vibration based on self-mixing speckle interference (SMSI) has been demonstrated. In view of the autocorrelation characteristic of SMSI, the time delay of laser incident during one rotation period is determined, and the rotation speed of the object is calculated according to the mathematical relationship. At the same time, the signal square-wave conversion and the global maximum fringe-counting method are proposed to measure the vibration displacement subject to the rotation. The theory and signal processing means are introduced in detail, and a series of experiments employing computer disk at different positions with various rotation speeds indicate that the proposed method achieves a simple, efficient, and accurate multi-parameter measurement.

The TEA domain (TEAD) transcription factor forms a transcription co-activation complex with the key downstream effector of the Hippo pathway, YAP/TAZ. TEAD-YAP controls the expression of Hippo-responsive genes involved in cell proliferation, development, and tumorigenesis. Hyperactivation of TEAD-YAP activities is observed in many human cancers and is associated with cancer cell proliferation, survival, and immune evasion. Therefore, targeting the TEAD-YAP complex has emerged as an attractive therapeutic approach. We previously reported that the mammalian TEAD transcription factors (TEAD1–4) possess auto-palmitoylation activities and contain an evolutionarily conserved palmitate-binding pocket (PBP), which allows small-molecule modulation. Since then, several reversible and irreversible inhibitors have been reported by binding to PBP. Here, we report a new class of TEAD inhibitors with a novel binding mode. Representative analog TM2 shows potent inhibition of TEAD auto-palmitoylation both in vitro and in cells. Surprisingly, the co-crystal structure of the human TEAD2 YAP-binding domain (YBD) in complex with TM2 reveals that TM2 adopts an unexpected binding mode by occupying not only the hydrophobic PBP, but also a new side binding pocket formed by hydrophilic residues. RNA-seq analysis shows that TM2 potently and specifically suppresses TEAD-YAP transcriptional activities. Consistently, TM2 exhibits strong antiproliferation effects as a single agent or in combination with a MEK inhibitor in YAP-dependent cancer cells. These findings establish TM2 as a promising small-molecule inhibitor against TEAD-YAP activities and provide new insights for designing novel TEAD inhibitors with enhanced selectivity and potency.

BackgroundSocial determinants of health (SDOH) refer to the social, economic, and psychosocial conditions that influence health. Lower levels of SDOH factors including income, education, and employment are associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes, poorer glycemic control, and increased diabetes-related mortality. Few studies have conducted a comprehensive evaluation of multiple SDOH factors in a population with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify the range of SDOH challenges—including diabetes-related distress—that impact patients with insulin-dependent diabetes at an urban safety-net clinic using the 5-domain SDOH framework developed by the Healthy People 2020 initiative. MethodsThe pilot study used a cross-sectional, mixed methods approach. Participants were recruited from 3 programs within a general internal medicine clinic that provides ambulatory care for patients with uncontrolled T2DM. We administered an investigator-developed SDOH survey based on the Healthy People 2020 framework and the validated Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), which assesses 4 domains of diabetes-related distress. One-on-one interviews were conducted to gain in-depth information about challenges. ResultsIn total, 57 participants had an average hemoglobin A1c level of 11.0% (SD 2.6%). Overall, 92% (52/57) of participants had a barrier in at least one SDOH domain. SDOH challenges were most commonly reported in the domain of Health and Health Care (84%, 48/57), followed by Economic Stability (54%, n=31), Neighborhood and Built Environment (53%, n=30), Education and Health Literacy (47%, n=27), and Social and Community context (37%, n=21). The mean overall DDS score was 2.09 (SD 0.84), where scores of ≥2 indicate distress. Further, 79% (45/57) of participants had at least moderate diabetes-related distress in one of the 4 DDS domains. General themes that emerged from participant interviews included job interference with healthy behaviors, concerns about burdening others, challenges communicating with providers, and difficulty getting appointments in a timely manner. ConclusionsWe found high levels of SDOH barriers across all 5 domains of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy People 2020 framework, including significant levels of diabetes-related distress. Future programs to address SDOH barriers in patients with uncontrolled insulin-dependent diabetes should consider screening for and focusing on a wide range of challenges.

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) in Chinese Americans is a rising public health concern for the US health care system. The majority of Chinese Americans with T2D are foreign-born older immigrants and report limited English proficiency and health literacy. Multiple social determinants of health limit access to evidence-based diabetes interventions for underserved Chinese immigrants. A social media–based diabetes intervention may be feasible to reach this community. ObjectiveThe purpose of the Chinese American Research and Education (CARE) study was to examine the potential efficacy of a social media–based intervention on glycemic control in Chinese Americans with T2D. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the potential effects of the intervention on psychosocial and behavioral factors involved in successful T2D management. In this report, we describe the design and protocol of the CARE trial. MethodsCARE was a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT; n=60) of a 3-month intervention. Participants were randomized to one of two arms (n=30 each): wait-list control or CARE intervention. Each week, CARE intervention participants received two culturally and linguistically tailored diabetes self-management videos for a total of 12 weeks. Video links were delivered to participants via WeChat, a free and popular social media app among Chinese immigrants. In addition, CARE intervention participants received biweekly phone calls from the study’s community health workers to set goals related to T2D self-management and work on addressing goal-achievement barriers. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), self-efficacy, diabetes self-management behaviors, dietary intake, and physical activity were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Piecewise linear mixed-effects modeling will be performed to examine intergroup differences in HbA1c and psychosocial and behavioral outcomes. ResultsThis pilot RCT study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in March 2021. The first participant was enrolled in March 2021, and the recruitment goal (n=60) was met in March 2022. All data collection is expected to conclude by November 2022, with data analysis and study results ready for reporting by December 2023. Findings from this pilot RCT will further guide the team in planning a future large-scale study. ConclusionsThis study will serve as an important first step in exploring scalable interventions to increase access to evidence-based diabetes interventions among underserved, low-income, immigrant populations. This has significant implications for chronic care in other high-risk immigrant groups, such as low-income Hispanic immigrants, who also bear a high T2D burden, face similar barriers to accessing diabetes programs, and report frequent social media use (eg, WhatsApp). Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03557697; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03557697 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/42554

BackgroundPrevious studies have evaluated the association between ABO blood group and venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). However, it remains unclear whether ABO blood groups are associated with PICC-associated VTE risk. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of related studies to elucidate the potential role of ABO blood group as a risk factor for PICC-associated VTE.MethodsAll detectable case–control and cohort studies comparing the role of ABO blood group as a risk factor for PICC-associated VTE were collected for this analysis by searching PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Web of Science, and Wanfang. We conducted a meta-analysis of the eligible studies and computed the summary risk estimates with random or fixed effects models.ResultsA total of four studies involving 7,804 patients were included. Meta-analysis of the studies showed that the risk of PICC-associated VTE was significantly higher in blood types A [odds ratio (OR)=1.54, 95% CI=1.17–2.03), p=0.002], B (OR=2.35, 95% CI=1.71–3.23, p

BackgroundSmoking remains a major public health issue among Chinese immigrants. Smoking cessation programs that focus on this population are scarce and have a limited population-level impact due to their low reach. Mobile messaging interventions have the potential to reach large audiences and expand smokers’ access to smoking cessation treatment. ObjectiveThis study describes the development of a culturally and linguistically appropriate mobile messaging smoking cessation intervention for Chinese immigrant smokers delivered via WeChat, the most frequently used social media platform among Chinese people globally. MethodsThis study had 2 phases. In phase 1, we developed a mobile message library based on social cognitive theory and the US Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. We culturally adapted messages from 2 social cognitive theory-based text messaging smoking cessation programs (SmokefreeTXT and Decídetexto). We also developed new messages targeting smokers who were not ready to quit smoking and novel content addressing Chinese immigrant smokers’ barriers to quitting and common misconceptions related to willpower and nicotine replacement therapy. In phase 2, we conducted in-depth interviews with 20 Chinese immigrant smokers (including 7 women) in New York City between July and August 2021. The interviews explored the participants’ smoking and quitting experiences followed by assessment of the text messages. Participants reviewed 17 text messages (6 educational messages, 3 self-efficacy messages, and 8 skill messages) via WeChat and rated to what extent the messages enhanced their motivation to quit, promoted confidence in quitting, and increased awareness about quitting strategies. The interviews sought feedback on poorly rated messages, explored participant preferences for content, length, and format, discussed their concerns with WeChat cessation intervention, and solicited recommendations for frequency and timing of messages. ResultsOverall, participants reported that the messages enhanced their motivation to quit, offered encouragement, and made them more informed about how to quit. Participants particularly liked the messages about the harms of smoking and strategies for quitting. They reported barriers to applying some of the quitting strategies, including coping with stress and staying abstinent at work. Participants expressed strong interest in the WeChat mobile messaging cessation intervention and commented on its potential to expand their access to smoking cessation treatment. ConclusionsMobile messages are well accepted by Chinese immigrant smokers. Research is needed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of WeChat mobile messaging smoking cessation interventions for promoting abstinence among Chinese immigrant smokers.

For the existing visual–inertial SLAM algorithm, when the robot is moving at a constant speed or purely rotating and encounters scenes with insufficient visual features, problems of low accuracy and poor robustness arise. Aiming to solve the problems of low accuracy and robustness of the visual inertial SLAM algorithm, a tightly coupled vision-IMU-2D lidar odometry (VILO) algorithm is proposed. Firstly, low-cost 2D lidar observations and visual–inertial observations are fused in a tightly coupled manner. Secondly, the low-cost 2D lidar odometry model is used to derive the Jacobian matrix of the lidar residual with respect to the state variable to be estimated, and the residual constraint equation of the vision-IMU-2D lidar is constructed. Thirdly, the nonlinear solution method is used to obtain the optimal robot pose, which solves the problem of how to fuse 2D lidar observations with visual–inertial information in a tightly coupled manner. The results show that the algorithm still has reliable pose-estimation accuracy and robustness in many special environments, and the position error and yaw angle error are greatly reduced. Our research improves the accuracy and robustness of the multi-sensor fusion SLAM algorithm.

BackgroundChinese immigrants bear a high diabetes burden and face significant barriers to accessing diabetes self-management education (DSME) and counseling programs. ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability and to pilot test the potential efficacy of a social media–based DSME intervention among low-income Chinese immigrants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in New York City. MethodsThis was a single group pretest and posttest study in 30 Chinese immigrants with T2D. The intervention included 24 culturally and linguistically tailored DSME videos, focusing on diabetes education and behavioral counseling techniques. Over 12 weeks, participants received 2 brief videos each week via WeChat, a free social media app popular among Chinese immigrants. Primary outcomes included the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Feasibility was evaluated by recruitment processes, retention rates, and the video watch rate. Acceptability was assessed via a satisfaction survey at 3 months. Secondary outcomes, that is, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), self-efficacy, dietary intake, and physical activity, were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Descriptive statistics and paired 2-sided t tests were used to summarize the baseline characteristics and changes before and after the intervention. ResultsThe sample population (N=30) consisted of mostly females (21/30, 70%) who were married (19/30, 63%), with limited English proficiency (30/30, 100%), and the mean age was 61 (SD 7) years. Most reported an annual household income of

Schizophyllum commune (S. commune) fermented supernatant with added Radix Puerariae (SC-RP) showed significant antioxidant activity in our previous work. However, the possible lifespan and healthspan extending the capacity of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and the underlying mechanism were not illuminated. In this study, the effect of SC-RP on extending the lifespan and improving stress resistance of C. elegans were examined. Additionally, the underlying lifespan extending molecular mechanisms of SC-RP were explored. Treated with SC-RP at 10 μg/mL, the lifespan of C. elegans increased by 24.89% (P < 0.01). Also, SC-RP prolonged the healthspan of the nematode, including reducing lipofuscin levels, improving mobility and enhancing resistance to oxidative stress and heat shock. Moreover, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were increased for SC-RP treated C. elegans. Meantime the intracellular levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were attenuated. Express levels of eight genes including daf-2, daf-16, sod-3, skn-1, gst-4, clk-1, age-1 and mev-1 were analyzed by RT-PCR method for possible C. elegan anti-aging mechanisms of SC-RP. Expression levels of key genes daf-2, gst-4 and sod-3 were up-regulated, while that of daf-16, skn-1, and clk-1 were down-regulated. The results suggest that SC-RP could extend the lifespan and healthspan of C. elegans significantly, and the IIS pathway, SKN-1/Nrf2 pathway and mitochondrial metabolism pathway were primarily considered associated. Thus, SC-RP is a potential component to improve aging and aging-related symptoms as new functional materials.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in non-endemic areas. Methods From January 2020, the Nanjing Public Health Medical Center began to treat confirmed patients. Retrospective analysis was carried out in 57 patients with identified novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia and having been discharged for the epidemiological characteristics, clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory test results, and CT images. Results The 57 patients were at an age ranging from 5 to 97 years (median 37 years), and 29 males (50.9%) and 28 females (49.1%). Among them, 35 cases had clear contact with the epidemic area Wuhan, and 16 were clustered cases. The average incubation period was 7.4 d for the disease. In them, 54 cases occurred locally, 23 patients had fever as the first symptom, and 13 patients had normal temperature. Other main first symptoms included dry cough (14 cases, 24.6%) and body aches and fatigue (5 cases, 8.8%). The patients with decreased peripheral white blood cell count accounted for 26.3%, those with reduced lymphatic or eosinophils count for 47.4%, those with increased average platelet volume for 24.7%, elevated serum ALT or AST levels for 15.8%, raised CKMB for 5.3%, and those with decreased blood potassium for 40.4%. All patients had lung illness and were positive to nucleic acid test, and 66.7% of them got both lung involved. Of the 57 patients, 26.3% were mild and 73.7% were ordinary. Their average length of hospital stay was 10.1 d, and they had an average course of 15.6 d. All of them were treated with interferon αb1 combined with acetylcysteine, 47 cases were combined with kriging, and 18 cases with abidol. All the 57 cases were improved and discharged. Conclusion All these cases in Najing are almost imported from the epidemic area. The clinical classification is mainly ordinary type. Low fever, dry cough, sore throat and systemic soreness, decreased lymphocytes, ground glass shadow in CT images, and positive to nucleic acids are the main clinical features of the disease.

In this paper, a novel self-mixing interferometer based on reflective phase modulation (RPM) method has been developed to perform micro-displacement reconstruction with nanometer accuracy. Broaden harmonic components spectrum of the self-mixing signal is produced by employing a high-frequency vibrating reflective mirror as the phase modulation device. Phase demodulation is implemented applying the orthogonal demodulation algorithm subject to the signal spectrum, in which orthogonal signal can be extracted from the harmonic components of the expanded Bessel function. The principle and signal processing approach are introduced in detail, and the simulation results indicate that the reconstruction error can be reduced as the number of reflections increases. A series of experiments at different vibration amplitudes show that the reconstructed errors are all less than 10 nm with modulation frequency of 1 kHz. And the minimum error of 3 nm has been achieved at the measured amplitude of 229 nm, which demonstrates the technical-superiority and high-performance of the method.

BackgroundChinese immigrants suffer a disproportionately high type 2 diabetes (T2D) burden and tend to have poorly controlled disease. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have been shown to increase access to care and improve chronic disease management in minority populations. However, such interventions have not been developed for or tested in Chinese immigrants with T2D. ObjectiveThis study aims to examine mobile device ownership, current use, and interest in mHealth interventions among Chinese immigrants with T2D. MethodsIn a cross-sectional survey, Chinese immigrants with T2D were recruited from Chinese community centers in New York City. Sociodemographic characteristics, mobile device ownership, current use of social media software applications, current use of technology for health-related purposes, and interest in using mHealth for T2D management were assessed. Surveys were administered face-to-face by bilingual study staff in the participant’s preferred language. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the study sample and summarize technology use. ResultsThe sample (N=91) was predominantly female (n=57, 63%), married (n=68, 75%), and had a high school education or less (n=58, 64%); most participants had an annual household income of less than US $25,000 (n=63, 69%) and had limited English proficiency (n=78, 86%). The sample had a mean age of 70 (SD 11) years. Almost all (90/91, 99%) participants had a mobile device (eg, basic cell phones, smart devices), and the majority (n=83, 91%) reported owning a smart device (eg, smartphone or tablet). WeChat was the most commonly used social media platform (65/91, 71%). When asked about their top source for diabetes-related information, 63 of the 91 participants (69%) reported health care providers, followed by 13 who reported the internet (14%), and 10 who reported family, friends, and coworkers (11%). Less than one-quarter (21/91, 23%) of the sample reported using the internet to search for diabetes-related information in the past 12 months. About one-third of the sample (34/91, 37%) reported that they had watched a health-related video on their cell phone or computer in the past 12 months. The majority (69/91, 76%) of participants reported interest in receiving an mHealth intervention in the future to help with T2D management. ConclusionsDespite high mobile device ownership, the current use of technology for health-related issues remained low in older Chinese immigrants with T2D. Given the strong interest in future mHealth interventions and high levels of social media use (eg, WeChat), future studies should consider how to leverage these existing low-cost platforms and deliver tailored mHealth interventions to this fast-growing minority group.

Robust optimal design of circulation systems (e.g., roads for vehicles or corridors for pedestrians) relies on an accurate steady-state traffic flow model that considers the effect of randomly changing environmental factors (e.g., daily periodicity and weather). Most analytical models assume that the customer interarrival time and service time of circulation facilities follow the exponential distribution with fixed rate parameters, which is unrealistic in most cases. In this paper, we develop a stationary PH i/PH i,n/C/C state-dependent queuing model in a randomly changing environment (RE), which is represented by a Markov chain. The model simultaneously considers the general randomness of arrival and service, the randomly varying rate parameters, and the state-dependent service (the travel time increases with the number of customers). The existing matrix analytic scheme (MAS) algorithm is extended to solve the proposed model because it avoids the explicit calculation of probability distributions. The space complexity of the algorithm is only linear in the number of RE states and is independent of the enormous (four-dimensional) state space of the Markov process. Its time complexity is a linear function of the product of the queue capacity and the number of RE states. Our model is validated versus simulation estimates. The obtained conditional performance measures can accurately capture the queue accumulation and dissipation and reveal the effect of randomly changing environments. Numerical experiments provide some interesting findings. (1) The proposed stationary model coincides with the transient M(t)/Gx/C/C fluid queuing model under special conditions. (2) Under high traffic intensities, increasing the randomness in the duration time of the RE state leads to an obvious growth in the conditional queue length. (3) An increase in the facility length leads to an increase or a decrease in the average output rate, depending on whether the congestion dissipates effectively in one cycle. (4) A larger width is required to obtain the maximum average output rate for traffic demand with a greater nonuniformity.

The current research on the mixed traffic flow characteristics of human-driven vehicles (HDVs) and connected automated vehicles (CAVs) mainly focuses on the micro-level. To study the characteristics of the mixed traffic flow from the medium and macro level, this paper proposes a variable cell transmission model (VCTM). First, the fundamental diagram is introduced based on the phenomena of hysteresis of traffic flow. Second, the VCTM with different market penetration rates (MPR) of CAVs is proposed based on the classical cell transmission model (CTM). Then, the effectiveness of VCTM is verified by micro-simulation based on the intelligent driver model (IDM). Finally, some congestion indexes are selected to discuss the characteristics of mixed traffic flow based on the VCTM with an expressway simulation. The results show that the traffic capacity and congestion dissipation capacity gradually are increased with the increase of MPR of CAVs. The homogeneous CAVs traffic flow capacity can reach 1.41 times that of the homogeneous HDVs traffic flow, and the congestion dissipation time can be reduced by 25%. The larger MPR is, the greater the improvement effect is. In addition, compared with CTM, VCTM can reflect the delay, queuing, and dissipation of mixed traffic flow more accurately, which is helpful to capture the evolution mechanism of mixed traffic flow in the future.

Modelling the mixed traffic flows of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and human-driven vehicles (HVs) on highways is challenging. Randomness, fluctuations, and congestion exist in the mixed traffic flows. This paper extends the current literature by proposing an M/G(n)/c/c state-dependent queuing model operating in a random environment. The fluctuating traffic demand is addressed by arrival rates modulated by the random environment. Meanwhile, a Markovian arrival process (MAP) is incorporated to describe the platoons. We investigate the performance of the mixed traffic flow under the I policy (AVs and HVs travel together in all lanes) and the D policy (one lane is designated to AVs). Numerical experiments reveal the following interesting findings: (1) the fluctuation degree of traffic demand, the traffic intensity, and the penetration rate of AVs play essential roles in determining the performance of mixed traffic flows. (2) The I policy should always be adopted if the travel time is more valuable. In terms of output rate, the choice between the I and the D policies depends on the traffic intensity, SCV of arrival rates and penetration rate. (3) A larger penetration rate is required to completely eliminate congestion on a longer highway segment.

Amphiphilic polysaccharides can be used as wall materials and applied to encapsulate hydrophobic active chemicals; moreover, there is significant demand for novel medical high-molecular-weight materials with various functions. In order to prepare amphiphilic schizophyllan (SPG), octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) was chosen to synthesize OSA-modified schizophyllan (OSSPG) using an esterified reaction. The modification of OSSPG was demonstrated through FT-IR and thermal analysis. Moreover, it was found that OSSPG has a better capacity for loading curcumin, and the loading amount was 20 μg/mg, which was 2.6 times higher than that of SPG. In addition, a hydrogel made up of PVA, borax, and C-OSSPG (OSSPG loaded with curcumin) was prepared by means of the one-pot method, based on the biological effects of curcumin and the immune-activating properties of SPG. The mechanical properties and biological activity of the hydrogel were investigated. The experimental results show that the dynamic cross-linking of PVA and borax provided the C-OSSPG/BP hydrogel dressing with exceptional self-healing properties, and it was discovered that the C-OSSPG content increased the hydrogel’s swelling and moisturizing properties. In fibroblast cell tests, the cells treated with hydrogel had survival rates of 80% or above. Furthermore, a hydrogel containing C-OSSPG could effectively promote cell migration. Due to the excellent anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, the hydrogel also significantly reduces the generation of inflammatory factors, such as TNF-α and IL-6, and thus has a potential application as a wound dressing medicinal material.

Pantana phyllostachysae Chao (PPC) is one of the deadliest defoliators of Moso bamboo. Accurately locating and evaluating PPC damage is essential for the management of bamboo forests. Moso bamboo has a unique biennial growth cycle, consisting of the on-year period (bamboo shoots are incubated and then produced) and the off-year period (old leaves are dropped and then new leaves are grown, and no bamboo shoots are produced in the coming year). The similar physiological characteristics of off-year bamboo and damaged on-year bamboo create difficulties in monitoring PPC damage using remote sensing data. In this study, we synergistically used Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and field inventory data to construct machine learning (extreme gradient boosting, XGBoost) models monitoring PPC damage. The results show that the single-time observation feature-based model (using images from October) outperformed the double-time observation feature-based model (using the differences between remote sensing signals from October and February or April) due to the interference from other disturbance agents (e.g., logging and weeding). The overall accuracy (OA) values of the single-time observation feature-based model were at least 3% and 10% higher than those for double-time observation feature-based models for on- and off-year samples, respectively. With the consideration of the on- and off-year phenological differences, OA was improved by over 4%. The model without differentiation of the phenological difference tended to underestimate the damaged area of on-year bamboo and overestimate that of off-year bamboo. We also found that the responses of optical and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) features to PPC damage were different. The optical features increased or decreased with increasing damage severity. SAR features decreased significantly at the initial stage of PPC damage and then changed marginally with the increase in damage severity. The addition of SAR features to optical features improved the model performance, mainly for healthy and mildly damaged samples. The methodology developed in this study provides technical and theoretical support for the pest monitoring of bamboo forests using remote sensing data.

Selection of interfacial layer is critical for nonfullerene active layers to obtain high performance due to high chemical reactivity with base or amines. So far, alcohol‐processed ethoxylated polyethylenimine (PEIE) interfacial layer has not been successfully used in high‐performance nonfullerene solar cells. Herein, findings are reported as follows: 1) alcohol‐processed PEIE as an interfacial layer can deliver high‐performance (15.3%) Y6‐based nonfullerene solar cells if its thickness is reduced to about 1.2 nm rather than 5–10 nm that is generally used in fullerene solar cells. That is comparable with the reference cells with ZnO interlayer. Slightly thicker PEIE (5 nm) would significantly reduce the power conversion efficiency down to 7.5%. This is completely different from the fullerene‐based solar cells. 2) The ultrathin thickness strategy is not universal for other nonfullerene acceptors. Even though the PEIE thickness is about 1.2 nm, the IT‐4F‐based nonfullerene solar cells exhibit lower performance than reference cells with ZnO interlayer. That is because the IT‐4F is more chemically reactive than Y6 with the PEIE. The observation suggests the proper selection and optimization of the interfacial layer is critical to the solar cells with different nonfullerene electron acceptors.

3-PBA is a major degradation intermediate of pyrethroids. Its widespread existence in the environment poses a severe threat to the ecosystem and human health. This study evaluated the adsorption capacity of L. plantarum RS20 toward 3-PBA. Batch adsorption experiments indicated that the optimal adsorption conditions were a temperature of 37 °C and initial pH of 6.0–8.0, under which the removal rate was positively correlated with the cell concentration. In addition, there was no link between the incubation time and adsorption rate. The kinetic study showed that the adsorption process fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption isotherms could be described by both Langmuir and Freundlich equations. Heat and acid treatments showed that the ability of strain RS20 in removing 3-PBA was independent of microbial vitality. Indeed, it was involved with chemisorption and physisorption via the cell walls. The cell walls made the highest contribution to 3-PBA removal, according to the adsorption experiments using different cellular components. This finding was further reconfirmed by SEM. FTIR spectroscopy analysis indicated that carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino groups, and –C–N were the functional sites for the binding of 3-PBA. The co-culture experiments showed that the adsorption of strain RS20 enhanced the degradation of 3-PBA by strain SC-1. Strain RS20 could also survive and effectively remove 3-PBA in simulated digestive juices. Collectively, strain RS20 could be employed as a biological detoxification agent for humans and animals by eliminating 3-PBA from foods, feeds, and the digestive tract in the future.

Abstract Although the effects of nickel chloride (NiCl2) on the immune system have long been recognized, little is known about the effects of nickel (II) on the cell cycle and related signaling events in immune organs, such as cecal tonsil, a key immune organ of chicken. In the present study, we investigated the effect of NiCl2 on the cell cycle of cecal tonsil. The cell cycle was detected by the methods of flow cytometry (FCM), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The results showed that dietary NiCl2 in excess of 300 mg/kg caused the G2/M cell cycle arrest and the reduction of cell proportion at S phase of the cecal tonsil. The G2/M cell cycle arrest was accompanied by the up-regulation of p53, p21 protein expression and mRNA expression, and down-regulation of cyclinB and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein expression and mRNA expression. The data suggested that the cells’ (mainly the T lymphocytes) proliferation in the cecal tonsil was inhibited by the high dietary NiCl2.

Background: People with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often struggle with uncertainty and fear when learning of and coping with their diagnosis. However, little is known about their experiences and perspectives, and those of their care partners, when seeking out and undergoing a diagnostic evaluation for their cognitive symptoms. Method: This study is a secondary analysis of a focus group discussion that was initially conducted to learn the perspectives and experiences of participants and their care partners during a mock disclosure session of brain scan results. Participant’s broader views on their experience of completing a cognitive evaluation resulting in an MCI diagnosis were evaluated in this study. Analysis used qualitative content methodology and line-by-line coding which generated categories and themes. Results: The (1) “presence of a threat” and (2) attempts to “minimize the threat” emerged as overarching themes driving the process of seeking out a diagnostic evaluation for cognitive symptoms. Subthemes that highlight the complexity of the presence of a threat included the “fear of stigma,” and the “emotional reactions” related to an MCI diagnosis. Three additional subthemes represented approaches that participants and their care partners used to minimize threat of MCI: “use of language” to minimize the threat; “information sharing and withholding”; and the “use of social support to legitimize personal experiences.” Conclusion: These findings add to the literature by elucidating the uncertainty, fears, and coping strategies that accompany a diagnostic evaluation of MCI.

Calreticulin (CALR) has anti-tumor effects by increasing dendritic cell maturation and tumor antigen presentation. However, whether CALR affects macrophages and modulates progression of acute respiratory distress syndrome/acute lung injury (ARDS/ALI) remains unknown. In this study, we discovered that CALR protein was highly expressed in the mice with LPS-induced ALI and CALR expression level was positively correlated to the severity of ALI. Commercial anti-CALR antibody (aCALR) can neutralize recombinant CALR (rCALR) and suppress the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the rCALR-treated macrophages. Blocking CALR activity by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of aCALR significantly suppressed ALI, accompanied with lower total cell counts, neutrophil and T cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissues. The expression of CXCL15, IL-6, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and CALR were significantly reduced, in association with more polarization of Siglec F+CD206+M2 subtype macrophages in the aCALR-treated mice. Pre-depletion of circulating monocytes did not abolish the aCALR-mediated suppression of ALI. Further analysis in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) showed that aCALR suppressed the expression of CD80, IL-6, IL-1beta, IL-18, NLRP3, and p-p38 MAPK; but enhanced the expression of CD206 and IL-10. In addition, we observed more expression and phosphorylation of STAT6 in the aCALR-treated BMDM. Lack of STAT6 resulted in comparable and slightly higher expression of CALR, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the aCALR-treated STAT6-/- BMDMs than the untreated cells. Therefore, we conclude that CALR is a novel biomarker in the evaluation of ALI. Blocking CALR activity by aCALR effectively suppressed ALI independent of circulating monocytes. Siglec F+CD206+M2 subtype macrophages and p38 MAPK/STAT6 signaling pathway played important role in the immune regulation of aCALR. Blocking CALR activity is a promising therapeutic approach in the treatment of ARDS/ALI.

Abstract Introduction Given mounting calls to disclose biomarker test results to research participants, we explored factors underlying decisions by patients with mild cognitive impairment to receive amyloid imaging results. Methods Prospective, qualitative interviews were conducted with 59 participants (30 = mild cognitive impairment patients, 29 = care partners) from the scan arm of a randomized controlled trial on the effects of amyloid PET results disclosure in an Alzheimer Disease Research Center setting. Results Sixty‐three percent of the participants were female, with an average age of 72.9 years, and most had greater than a high school level of education (80%). Primary motivations included: (1) better understanding one's mild cognitive impairment etiology and prognosis to plan ahead, and (2) learning one's brain amyloid status for knowledge's sake, regardless of whether the information is actionable. Most participants demonstrated an adequate understanding of the scan's limitations, yet instances of characterizing amyloid PET as a definitive test for Alzheimer's disease occurred. Mention of potential drawbacks, such as negative psychological outcomes, was minimal, even among care partners. Discussion Findings demonstrate a risk of disproportionate focus on possible benefits of testing among amyloid scan candidates and suggest a need to clearly emphasize the limitations of amyloid PET when counseling cognitively impaired patients and their families before testing. Future research should examine whether minimizing drawbacks at the pre‐imaging stage has adverse consequences on results disclosure.

We aim to describe temporal eating patterns in a population of adults with overweight or obesity. In this cross-sectional analysis, data were combined from two separate pilot studies during which participants entered the timing of all eating occasions (>0 kcals) for 10–14 days. Data were aggregated to determine total eating occasions, local time of the first and last eating occasions, eating window, eating midpoint, and within-person variability of eating patterns. Eating patterns were compared between sexes, as well as between weekday and weekends. Participants (n = 85) had a median age of 56 ± 19 years, were mostly female (>70%), white (56.5%), and had a BMI of 31.8 ± 8.0 kg/m2. The median eating window was 14 h 04 min [12 h 57 min–15 h 21 min], which was significantly shorter on the weekend compared to weekdays (p < 0.0001). Only 13.1% of participants had an eating window p = 0.0002). In conclusion, adults with overweight or obesity have prolonged eating windows (>14 h/d). Future trials should examine the contribution of a prolonged eating window on adiposity independent of energy intake.

Width design of the urban rail transit stations circulation facilities is a vital issue. The existing width design approach failed in fully considering the essential factors such as fluctuation in passengers’ arrival process, fluctuation and state-dependence in passengers walking speed and the blocking when passengers’ demand exceeds the capacity of facilities. For this purpose, a PH-based simulation-optimization approach is proposed that fully considers the fluctuation, the state-dependence, Level of Service (LOS) and blocking effect. This novel approach provides automatic reconfiguration of the widths of circulation facilities by a concurrent implementation of a PH-based Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) model and the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The proposed PH-based simulation- optimization approach and the existing design approaches based on the exponential and deterministic models are applied to design the widths of circulation facilities. The results reveal that the circulation facilities designed by the proposed approach have larger widths. Similarly, increase in the SCV of arrival interval results in increasing the widths designed by the proposed approach increase while the widths of the other two approaches stay the same. The width designed of the proposed approach increase at faster rate than that of the other two approach when the passengers’ arrival rate increases.

Background: Although our previous studies have confirmed that the activation of TLR4 is implicated in the development of atherosclerosis induced by chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS), the underling mechanism is largely unclear. Here, we hypothesized that CUMS accelerates atherosclerotic development through lowering PPARγ/LXRα-ABCA1 expression via HMGB1/TLR4 signaling.Methods: In present study, CUMS atherosclerotic animal models were established with AopE-/- mice, and CUMS Raw 264.7 macrophage models were mimicked by high corticosterone treatment, These models were treated with Ethyl pyruvate (EP, an inhibitor of HMGB1), TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242, and PPARγ agonist RSG (Rosiglitazone) to test our hypothesis, respectively.Results: Our results indicated that the protein levels of HMGB1, TLR4, and pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α were elevated with the development of atherosclerosis in CUMS mice, while the expressions of PPARγ, LXRα, and ABCA1 declined. Notably, HMGB1 inhibition by EP reversed CUMS-induced atherosclerotic development, pro-inflammatory cytokines upregulation, and PPARγ/LXRα-ABCA1 downregulation. The same trend was observed in the stressed mice treatment with TAK-242. Further experimental evidences indicated that EP, TAK-242, and RSG treatment notably corrected foam cell formation, HMGB1 release, and down-regulation of LXRα and ABCA1 in CUMS Raw 264.7 macrophage model.Conclusion: These results indicate that CUMS exacerbates atherosclerosis is likely via HMGB1-mediated downregulation of PPARγ/LXRα-ABCA1 through TLR4. These data reveal a novel mechanism by which CUMS aggravates atherosclerosis and may offer a potential therapeutic target for this disease.